The cybersecurity industry in Argentina is growing rapidly, with many independent professionals offering specialized cybersecurity services such as malware support, hacker prevention, cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and penetration testing. That’s why we consider it one of the best Latin American countries to hire cybersecurity experts and begin outsourcing to save some serious money. In this article, we provide an overview of the cybersecurity industry in this country and the best ways for North American companies looking to hire experts in Argentina.
An overview of cybersecurity in Argentina
Argentina is home to a booming market for all tech professionals, including cybersecurity experts, with a rapidly growing IT industry and some of the best cybersecurity talent in Latin America. This growth is mainly due to increased investments from both local and international companies, as well as an increment in government support over the last few years. This South American country is home to a variety of tech companies, from startups to large international corporations, which are all looking for qualified professionals to fill their roles.
Argentina is predicted to keep scaling its IT market, as the industry is estimated to increase in size and revenue by USD 6,689 million between 2022 and 2027. Moreover, the sector is a major contributor to the growth of the Argentine economy, with investments in the industry estimated to be around 5% of the country’s GDP. The industry has seen a significant increase in employment opportunities in recent years, with more than 2 million people now employed in the sector.
As the IT industry continues to scale and grow at unprecedented rates in Argentina and all of Latin America, the sector is also facing a few challenges related to cybersecurity. With the country’s increasing reliance on technology for everyday activities as well as tech-related tasks, there’s now a higher risk of cyberattacks and data breaches within Argentina. To stay on top of these growing cybersecurity concerns, many companies are investing heavily in malware and cyberattack protection, as well as in in-depth research and development related to security technologies. A good number of local businesses are also looking to actively upskill their IT and cybersecurity teams to be able to prevent any attacks or data breaches from happening in the future.
Now, the cybersecurity industry in Argentina itself is still in the stage of early development, but there are many well-established companies and qualified independent professionals offering services. These companies are often focused on providing security solutions for large enterprises, though there is also a growing demand for smaller businesses as well. Moreover, the creation of the recent Industrial Cybersecurity Center Coordinator in Argentina – which even features an English website and news section – helps to inform and monitor the state of industrial cybersecurity in the country.
Despite the lack of modernized and specific legislation for the sector, there are a number of opportunities for growth in the cybersecurity industry in Argentina, including a strong potential for collaboration with foreign companies and the development of new technologies. The country often hosts a variety of events and forums presenting the latest news and trends in the cybersecurity sector, which help to promote the cybersecurity industry both locally and internationally, motivating generations of future and current IT professionals to specialize in cybersecurity. Additionally, the government has recently taken steps to improve the country’s cyber security infrastructure, including the establishment of a National Cyber Security Authority and the introduction of new laws to protect citizens’ data and privacy.
IT education for cybersecurity experts in Argentina
Argentina has several different universities offering IT and cybersecurity-related degrees, providing businesses with a sizeable and versatile pool of local talent to draw from. The most popular programs at public (and free to attend!) institutions include Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Buenos Aires and Systems Engineering at the National University of La Plata, but there are other great degrees at different private universities as well, such as those from ITBA, Argentina’s Institute for Technology.
Beyond the academic world, there are bootcamps and online institutes that offer Argentinian cybersecurity experts a chance to learn and develop new skills and train for this popular job. If the prior options weren’t enough, there are also plenty of self-study options on the internet. With such varied options for aspiring cybersecurity experts in Argentina, any developing IT professional can access a solid education with the conditions most convenient to their lifestyle and study preferences.
Most popular technologies for cybersecurity experts in Latin America
Argentina is a country that’s never been afraid to innovate and play with technology in order to develop something new and more efficient. Just look at Mercado Libre, also known as the Amazon of Argentina, and its Net Revenues of $2.7 billion in 2022. As IT and cybersecurity professionals with such an adventurous mindset, you’ll find that Argentinean cybersecurity experts are proficient in many, and quite varied, technologies. This ensures your company will be able to hire a cybersecurity team from Argentina without having to worry about whether or not these specialists are proficient in the technology you’re looking for. Some of the most popular technologies with cybersecurity experts in Argentina include:
- Blockchain
- HTML
- IDS
- DLP
- IPS
- Cloud Computing
- AI
- Embedded Hardware Authentication
- Behavioral Analytics
Overall English proficiency level for cybersecurity experts in Argentina
If there’s something Argentina is famous for, other than its nearshoring opportunities, star soccer players, and great food, it’s the fantastic English proficiency level of a large number of its population. Currently, Argentina ranks #30 out of #111 countries in the 2022 EF EPI English proficiency level scoring systems, with an overall score of 562. This shows just how high the English level of any future cybersecurity hires in Argentina will be. With this country ranking first out of the rest of all of Latin America, there’s no reason to worry about being able to properly communicate with any future Argentinian cybersecurity experts joining your in-house team.
Cost of hiring cybersecurity experts in Argentina
The salaries of local cybersecurity experts in Argentina vary depending on multiple factors, such as experience level and job title. On average, local professionals typically charge between 30% to 50% less for their services than North American cybersecurity professionals. This allows companies to save money on IT and cybersecurity costs and allocate those resources elsewhere or save them for a rainy day at the office. When hiring nearshore engineers from Argentina, consider you’ll need to pay competitive salaries that reflect the current market rate- which is still tremendously cheaper than hiring in-house cybersecurity professionals. This cybersecurity staffing strategy will help you cut down IT costs while hiring top-notch professionals.
How to find and hire Argentinian cybersecurity experts
1. Maximize online resources to hire cybersecurity experts.
Popular job boards like Bumeran and Computrabajo are popular with cybersecurity experts in Argentina and can be used to search for specialists in the country, as well as to post any job openings your company is currently hiring for. If you’re lucky enough, a few Argentinian cybersecurity professionals will answer the ad and apply for the vacant position. You can also leverage social media platforms, such as Reddit, to connect with potential cybersecurity candidates and offer them to interview for a chance at joining your remote team.
2. Search for Argentinian cybersecurity independent contractors.
Hiring cybersecurity experts in Argentina who work as independent contractors can be a great solution for those looking to avoid working with any third-party sites, agencies, or freelancing platforms. There are many ways to look for independent specialists, but looking through professional networking sites like LinkedIn will help you find reputable cybersecurity professionals who are currently available to work on your projects.
3. Contact your network for referrals.
Referrals are valuable resources thanks to the way they allow you to reach out to potential cybersecurity candidates that have someone already vouching for their expertise and quality of work. Moreover, when you contact an independent professional after being referred by someone they have worked with in the past, they’re more likely to make room in their schedule to partner with you and offer customized cybersecurity solutions. Because of this, it’s always a good idea to ask your industry contacts if they know of any cybersecurity experts in Argentina they could recommend to you, just to make sure you’ve covered all your bases.
4. Give freelancing platforms a try.
Freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr – the two most popular ones with cybersecurity experts in Argentina – also offer a large selection of professionals from different backgrounds and strong English proficiency levels. These platforms connect cybersecurity professionals from all over Latin America and the rest of the world with employers interested in hiring freelancers to save money on IT costs. While the talent pool on these sites is versatile and quite large, keep in mind that freelancing platforms charge both the employer and the freelancer a fee for the use of their third-party services. This often causes freelancers to charge higher rates to make up for the extra costs.
5. Work with a cybersecurity staffing agency.
The most cost-effective way to hire cybersecurity experts in Argentina is to work with a cybersecurity staffing agency. Companies like us, CyberWarrior, offer nearshore outsourcing services that help North American companies hire cybersecurity specialists in Latin America for a fraction of the usual in-house costs. This option usually offers the best value for money thanks to the extensive features included in quality nearshoring services, including pre-interview vetting, recruiting, billing, and onboarding. All of these services tend to be included in the price of hiring nearshore cybersecurity experts, and companies like ours work with large networks that allow us to recruit IT professionals in a matter of days or a couple of weeks instead of months.
Ready to hire cybersecurity experts in Argentina with the help of a professional staffing agency?
Finding experienced cybersecurity experts in Argentina can be a daunting task for those new to the cybersecurity staffing scene. The Argentinian cybersecurity industry is complex and ever-changing, with different coding languages, security technologies, recruitment strategies, and payment methods. To help businesses navigate this landscape, we at CyberWarrior provide cybersecurity solutions through IT staff augmentation and nearshore outsourcing.
CyberWarrior is based in Massachusetts and has partnerships with both IT companies and cybersecurity experts all across Latin America and the United States – allowing us to connect you with our large, international network and help you hire cybersecurity experts in Argentina in record time. We believe in creating economic development opportunities for people that would otherwise not have them through boosting the Latin America IT industry and generating nearshoring opportunities as well as creating opportunities for people of color, women, and veterans in the United States. Contact us to learn more about our cybersecurity staffing services!
